Contrarotating hydroelectric machines including synchronous and asynchronous generators



June l, 1965 VINVENTOR LANG ATMP/Vey JOHANN H.

'current machines them-selves.

United States Patent O CONTRAROTATING HYDRDELECTRIC MA- CHlNES INCLUDING SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS Johann H. Lang, Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Dominion Engineering Works Limited Filed Nov. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 239,093 6 Claims. (Cl. 290-46) rIhis invention relates to new and improved contrarotating hydroelectric machines and has particular reference to the provision of new and improved means for establishing and maintaining control of [the torque ratio of the two contrarotating element-s of such machines at all loads.

In the last lattempts. to solve this problem have employed two direct current electric machines. Other attempts have involved the use of a duplex differential planetary gear train located in the water wheel hub.

Where two direct current electric machines were utilized, it was found that suc-h were generally unsatisfactory. The (direct current machines were found to be subject to economic size limitations. Furthermore, electric grid systems throughout the world are generally A.C. The inventer equipment necessary that these direct current machines be usable .-with these A C. systems was found to be extremely expensive; as were, in fact, the direct Other objections arose to the use of such a system both due to the bulk of said direct current machines and the impracticality of such machines in many installations.

Where the duplex differential planetary gear train in the hub was used, it was found that the sizeof the differential planetary gears was limited by the size of the hub. Furthermore, gearing so located is inaccessible and vulnerable to leaking seais. Location of the gearing externally of the Water wheel hub is expensive .and involves a considerably complicated design. f

It is an object of the present invention to provide a contr-arotating hydroelectric machine for use in conjunction with Ian alternating current electric power system, which machine is provided with means for control-ling the torque ratio of Ithe .two contrarotating elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new Iand improved device of the type set forth which operates with high efficiency over a wide range of operating regimes.

Another object of the 'invention is to provide a contrarotatlng hydroelectric machine having means for controlling the torque ratio ofthe two contrarotating elements wherein the torque controlling means are monitored -by signals from sensors responsive to variation of torsional stress in the driving shafts or to variations of electric power or to swirl in the water wheel outflow.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description taken in connection with the `accompanying drawing. It will be understood that changes may .be made in the details of construction Iand that the .arrangement of par-ts shown and described is the preferred Iform of the invention given by way .of illustration only.

The single drawing figure is a diagram illustrating a hydroelectric machine 'and a system for controlling the torque ratio of its contrarotating water wheels.

In the following description and the appended claims, the terms fixed-pitch Iand variable-pito are used with reference to water wheels. Where the water wheels are of the axial flow type, these terms are self explanatory; rbut it is to be understood that the full meaning of the term pitch in the context of this disclosure is specific speed at maximum eiciency. In the interests of brevity and clarity the single word pitch will be employed hereinafter with reference to all types of water wheels, whether turbine runner or pump impeller and whether rotates within throat ring 3.

Patented June l, 1965 alial, radial, or tangential dow or any combination of t ese.

In the case of a single wheel hydraulic machine, rotation is imparted to the water passing through the wheel. In `such single Wheel machines, it may happen that at one point in the load range the rotation imparted to the water by the wheel cancels rotation imparted to the water before reaching or :after leaving the wheel. From the viewpoint of efficiency this is desirable, however, the ideal would be the elimination of swirl from the outflow of the machine throughout the entire load range.

, In fa contrarotating hydraulic machine the rotation imparted to the water passing through one of the two water wheels may be modified or cancelled by the rotation imparted to the water Iby the other wheel.

From the viewpoint of efliciency7 the ideal might be for water to approach the upstream wheel without swirl and to leave the downstream wheel without swirl. In this case, the requirement would be for the torque ratio of .the two wheels to bc unity. There may be, however, good reasons why, even though i-t involves `a compromise as regards efficiency, the torque ratio of the two wheels should be other than unity, and further reasons why the actual value of the torque ratio should vary with the load factor. Such reasons may have their origin in .the design of the upstream and/ or downstream water passages, variations of hydraulic head, and avoidance of cavitation.

A realistic compromise with the ideal is to establish control over the ratio of torques in the water wheels of a contrarotating machine so that it may be operated at all points in the load range as near to ideal conditions as practicable.

In large hydroelectric machinery the electric power lis usually in the form of alternating current `at the frequency of a lar-ge grid system of which the hydroelectric machine is a relatively small component. lt is necessary, therefore, if the machine is to be associated with such an alternating current grid system, that it must either use or deliver electric power atthe frequency of the grid. That is to say that, when the two water wheels of a contrarotating hydroelectric machine are of `the fixed pitch type, since they are always subject to identical mass ow of water, the speed of at least one of them must be varied in order to achieve a change of the torque ratio.

In a contrarotating hydroelectric machine constructed in accordance with this invention, both water wheels yare of the fixed pitch type. One wheel is coupled to a synchronous electric machine synchronized with the grid; this wheel, therefore, runs at fixed speed. The other wheel is coupled to `an alternating current electric machine having a Variable slip characteristic whereby, though connected with the grid, it may run asynchronously; in other words, by varying the slip of this electric machine, the speed of its water wheel is Varied, and consequently its torque also. It will be apparent that by controlling slip of the asynchronous electric machine, the torque ratio of the two wheels, and therefore, the swirl in the outflow, may be controlled.

Referring to the drawing, the device shown comprises a water passage 4, a portion of which water passage 4 is formed lby a throat ring 3, a fixed pitch axial flow type water wheel 1 is mounted upon a hollow shaft 6 and Concentric with hollow shaft 6 is an inner shaft 5; a second lixed pitch axial flow type water wheel 2. is mounted upon inner shaft 5 Aand rotates within throat ring 3, water wheel 1 and Water sismico The end of hollow shaft 6 remote from water wheel l is connected to lower rotor 9, directly below which is located main thrust and guide bearing l0.

Inner shaft is connected at its end remote from Water wheel Z to upper rotor ll; upper thrust and guide bearing l2 is located between lower rotor 9 and upper rotor Illl.

Lower rotor 9 and upper rotor ll rotate within a common armature housing i3. Armature housing 13 is provided with sepa-rate windings llt and l5 corresponding with rotors lll and 9 respectively.

The lower'electric machine, comprising rotor 9 and winding l5, lis fof the-synchronous type. The upper electric machine comprising rotor Ill and winding i4 has a variable slip characteristic and may be of the wound rotor induction type as indicated in the drawing, having Vslip rings l? anda resistor l@ for controlling the resistance of the rotor winding, or it maybe of the commutator Vtype having movable brushgear.

The currents in wind-ings i4 and l5 are functions of the torques in water wheels 2 and l respectively, said curl trom comparator l@ Ifor actuator 2l which actuates theA resistor irl in the embodimentyof the invention illustrated in the drawing. ln an embodiment of the invention employing a commutator type induction machine actuator ill would actu-ate movable brushgear.

Electric signals from comparator circuit 19 are translated into slip changes of rotor lll, which is to say, speed changes of rotor il and Water wheel Z resulting in torque changes; consequently, the torque ratio of the water wheels ll and@ is changed so as to provide the desired swirl in the outflow of Water passage d. When this vdesired swirl is achieved, the adjustment ,of the resistor 'i8 ceases as the desired torque ratio has been established.

lt is to be understood that the upper electric machine, instead of being a variable slip induction machine, could equally well without departing from the nature or spirit oi the invention be a direct current machine -or a synchronous type alternating current machine with rectilication, subsequent linversion being applied to the output in either case.

The torquesin the water wheels 1 and 2 could be measured by evaluation of the torsional stresses in the shafts 6 and 5 respectively. These torsional stresses, as measured 'by strain gauges, tor example, could be employed as signals in comparator i9 instead of the currents in the Wind-ings l5 and ld.

Furthermore, swirl in the outflow of water passage 4 might be measured by means of a simple vane whose angular movements could be employed to generate signals which, amplied in the amplifier Ztl, could beemployed to adjust the torque ratio of water wheels ll and 2 until the desired swirl is achieved.

The Iopera-tion of .the invention is believed apparent from the foreging description.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided new and improved means for accomplishing -all et the objects and advantages of the invention.

I claim:

i. In combination, a constant speed hydroelectric machine; a contrarotating variable speed hydroelectric machine; .a fixed pitch Water wlheel for each machine, said water Wheels being adapted to Ioperate in a com-mon water stream; means for apportioning the torque devel-t oped by the two machines for nearly optimum hydraulic eciency of the combination throughout the normal operating range oi the machines comprising means for obtaining lfrom each hydroelectric machine a signal representing the torque developed by the machine; means for comparing said signals to obtain a control signal repre# senting the difference of said torques; and means for applying said control signal to control the speed of saidV vari-able speed machine so as to maintain said optimum hydraulic ellicien'cy.

2. In combination, a constant speed hydroelectric machine; a contrarotating variable speed hydroelectric machine;'a iirxed pitch water Wheel foreach machine, said water Wheels 'being adapted to operate in a common water stream; means for controlling the torque ratio oli said `hydroelectric machines comprising means for obtaining from each hydroelectric machine a signal representing 'the torque developed by the machine; means for comparing said signals to obtain a control signal representing the diierence of said torqucs, and means for applying said control 'signal to control the speed of said variable speed machine so as to maintain said torque ratio within preset limits.

3. ln combination, a constant speed hydroelectric machine; a contrarotating variable speed hydroelectric mach-ine; a lixed pitch axial ilow water wheel for each machine, said water Wheels being coaxial and closely spaced axially for operation in a common Water stream; means for controlling the torque ratio or said hydroelectric machines comprising means for obtaining a signal from each machine representing they electric 'loading thereon; means for comparing said signals to obtain a control signal representingthe difference or" said loadings; and means for applying saidcontrol signal to control the speed of said variable speed machine so as t-o maintain said torque ratio within preset limit-sf y rt. In combination, a hydroelectric machine having contrarotating, axial ow, xed pitch,` coaxial water Wheels operating in closely spaced axial relation in'a common water stream and a shaft for each water Wheel for driving the machine; means for controlling the torque ratio of said Shafts comprising means for obtaining for each shaft a signal representing the torque developed therein; means for comparing said signals to obtain la control signal representing the dilerence of said torques; and means for applying said control signal to vary the speed of one water wheel in relation to the other water wheel so as to maintain said torque'ratio within preset limits. y

5. In combination, a synchronous hydroelectric machine; a contrarotating asynchronous hydroelectric machine; a fixed pitch axial flow Water wheel .for each machine, said water wheels being coaxial and closely spaced vaxially for operation in a common water stream;

means for controlling the speed differential between said `V synchronous and asynchronous machines so as to maintain the torque ratio oi the two machines within preset limits comprising means lfor obtaining a signal from each machine representing the electric loading thereon; means -for comparing said signals to obtain a control signal representing the difference of said loadings; and means for applying said control signal to control the speed of said asynchronous machine land thereby said speed dilerential.

6. The combination dened in claim 5 wherein said asynchronous machine is an induction machine having a wound rotor and a variable resistor in series with the rotor winding, and wherein said control signal is 4applied to vary the resistance of said resistor and thereby control the slip speed of said rotor, said slip speed being the speed diilerential mentioned in claim 5.

References Cited by the Examiner UNrTED STATES PATENTS 7760,035 5/04 Stumpf 253-165 1,804,606 5/31 Grau 31S-100 

4. IN COMBINATION, A HYDROELECTRIC MACHINE HAVING CONTRAROTATING, AXIAL FLOW, FIXED PITCH, COAXIAL WATER WHEELS OPERATING IN CLOSELY SPACED AXIAL RELATION IN A COMMON WATER STREAM AND A SHAFT FOR EACH WATER WHEEL FOR DRIVING THE MACHINE; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE TORQUE RATIO OF SAID SHAFTS COMPRISING MEANS FOR OBTAINING FOR EACH SHAFT A SIGNAL REPRESENTING THE TORQUE DEVELOPED THEREIN; MEANS FOR COMPARING SAID SIGNALS TO OBTAIN A CONTROL SIGNAL REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENCE OF SAID TORQUES; AND MEANS FOR APPLYING SAID CONTROL SIGNAL TO VARY THE SPEED OF ONE WATER WHEEL IN RELATION TO THE OTHER WATER WHEEL SO AS TO MAINTAIN SAID TORQUE RATIO WITHIN PRESET LIMITS. 